Latvia continues storm recovery as thousands remain without power

summer storm power outages electrical grid repair infrastructure damage Latvia

Following one of the strongest summer storms in decades, which saw wind speeds exceeding 30 meters per second, Latvia continues to face widespread infrastructure damage. As of late August 2026, electricity has been restored to approximately 98.5% of affected customers, though several thousand people in regions such as Aizkraukle, Jēkabpils, and Bauska remain without power.

Repair efforts are being conducted by over 200 brigades from Sadales tīkls and seven additional brigades from the Estonian operator Elektrilevi. High-voltage transmission networks have also been stabilized, with Augstsprieguma tīkls (AST) restoring power to all 110 kV substations. To identify damage more efficiently, crews are utilizing drones for aerial inspections.

The storm has also caused significant environmental and economic impact. Latvijas Valsts meži (LVM) estimates that over 100,000 cubic meters of timber could be damaged in state forests, with cleanup potentially taking four months. Additionally, local businesses, such as the producer MārLapiņi, have reported being forced to halt production due to prolonged outages. The State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) has received thousands of emergency calls related to storm damage, including fallen trees and fires.

Entities

Augstsprieguma tīkls · Elektrilevi · Estonia · Latvia · Latvijas valsts meži · Sadales tīkls

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] A total of 3,347 emergency calls related to storm damage had been received by Tuesday morning. dzirkstele.lv
[● 3 SOURCES] Wind speeds during the recent summer storm exceeded 30 meters per second in some locations. dzirkstele.lv · pmo.ee
[○ 1 SOURCE] Major storm damage in state forests could be cleared within four months if weather conditions permit. pmo.ee
[○ 1 SOURCE] LVM is using Sentinel-1 satellite data to map storm damage areas. pmo.ee
[○ 1 SOURCE] Damaged timber in state forests could exceed 100,000 cubic meters. pmo.ee
[● 2 SOURCES] In the last 24 hours, 267 new emergency calls were received, with the highest number in Riga. dzirkstele.lv